VALLEJO, CA – The unsettling discovery of a missing woman’s body within a wall has left the Vallejo community in shock. Authorities confirmed that Renee Lewis, 28, was found hidden inside a home on 14th Street. Her disappearance had previously sparked an ebony alert from the California Highway Patrol, and now a suspect is in custody.
Lewis’s mother, who had last texted her daughter on Friday, was overwhelmed by the tragic confirmation. “I was praying it wasn’t her,” she lamented, recalling the moment she received the heartbreaking news.
The Vallejo Police Department announced late Tuesday the arrest of Douglas Shaw in connection with Lewis’s death. The nature of Shaw’s relationship to Lewis or the residence remains unclear, yet police noted his cooperation during the investigation.
Family members revealed that Lewis’s phone was discovered on a school rooftop, providing a critical clue. Utilizing the Life360 app, her mother had tracked her last known location, which coincided with where her body was found. Cousin LaToya actively participated in the search efforts.
Described as a loving individual with a passion for cooking, Lewis was cherished by her family. However, the ordeal has been compounded by cruel pranks. The family has endured prank calls, with individuals pretending to be Lewis and misleading her mother with false information.
The family, still grappling with the loss, noted the absence of any knowledge regarding the house or its occupants. Lewis, whose birthday would have been celebrated next Monday, leaves behind a grieving family seeking justice and answers.